Purpose of the role

The British High Commission (BHC) to South Africa oversees the UK Government’s operations in South Africa across the following locations:

• The British High Commission Pretoria (BHC)
• The UK Visas & Immigration Office in Pretoria
• The UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
• The British Consulate General Cape Town 

The BHC Security Team is based largely in Pretoria and is overall responsible for delivering security services to support the work of the Mission in the above locations. 

The role of the Post Security Manager is to support the Regional Security Advisor in managing security for the BHC offices, UK diplomatic staff and their families, country-based staff when at work and all those on our premises. The security team has a second Post Security Manager/ operations manager based in Pretoria with whom this role will work closely with, each having independent and varied responsibilities.  In addition, this position will cover a large proportion of business, visits and events that take place in the Cape Town, Durban and from time-to-time other regions within South Africa. 

The role includes ensuring that appropriate security measures are implemented at the UK in SA offices and that our buildings, assets and information are protected. The security team ensure staff are receiving and following correct security advice and procedures and that staff working in the mission offices have the required security clearance to access buildings, information and maintain access control. 

The role requires an individual who is flexible across all of these areas and who can demonstrate high standards of professionalism and deliver a high-quality service, often at pace. The jobholder will need to be willing to work flexibly to help others, take on different tasks where work pressures may be heavy, cover leave absences, attend to emergencies, assist in providing security at events and provide support during high level visits.  This can involve occasional security related calls in the evenings and weekends, for which a mobile phone and allowance is provided. 

Whilst the role is currently based in Pretoria, the jobholder will be part of a security team which covers all of South Africa and may therefore need to work remotely to these other locations on a range of security tasks.  The individual will likely need to travel between our offices in Gauteng, Cape Town and support visits to other provinces, all of which will be funded fully by the British High Commission. An official vehicle is also provided or made available for daily work in Pretoria and Johannesburg. Occasionally there will be the opportunity to travel to Eswatini or Lesotho to support the RSAs work there. 

The role is ideally suited to someone who:

• Has managed a variety of security situations, working to keep people safe.
• enjoys being part of a very busy team but can work independently with little supervision and able to help cover for the head of department and others in their absence.
• Has strong administrative and IT skills including Excel.
• Has experience in event security and/or high-level visits.
• Has experience managing a budget with good project management skills.
• Is a good communicator and people-person, who takes pride in good service and enjoys working in a busy team.
• Has some crisis or emergency management experience. 

It is essential for the jobholder to have a valid driving license as driving (in a company vehicle) to locations is required. A valid passport would also be required. 

Previous experience of working in a security services team at management level or other similar management experience is preferred. 

Roles and Responsibilities / what will the job holder be expected to achieve:

The below roles and responsibilities are general guidelines. The role is not limited to the detail below and the responsibilities are subject to change from time to time with prior consultation if circumstances, structures, work pressures or priorities alter, or if absences need covering. This role is separate to that of the Security Operations Manager (PSM) however there is some overlapping work, and you will also be required to understand the other role in order to cover these during times of absence from the office.

Provide thorough security briefings for new diplomatic staff spouses/partners, in country staff members and official visitors in line with agreed timetables. In addition to certify CBS vetting documents on induction and assist with vetting clearances. Ensure staff and official visitors are adequately trained and have attended the required security training. The RSA leads on the UKB briefings and content however there may be times when she is not available.

Managing and organising tasks required in the security department to support the overall objectives of the security department including report gathering, information analysis, responding to incidents, access control measures or supporting officers in official visits and events, managing contractors, tracking progress and good record keeping.

To manage office and property security upgrades and repairs in line with procurement policy and to check security works before sign off. To meet security contacts and build up strong connections to gather relevant security reports and information. To gather regular and relevant crime reports for areas where our UKB staff and families live or where all staff travel to in order to help keep staff apprised of the crime situation. To meet the G4S and other contract managers for KPI meetings and other updates and oversee extra guarding or security requirements as needed.

Arrange and carry out various incident drills in line with FCDO protocols that will generally involve guarding contractors and the health and safety teams. This includes briefing of staff in an appropriate manner. 

Assist in preparing for all events and VIP level official visits to South Africa (particularly Cape Town visits) and work together with the visits officer and other staff ensure all security protocols are in place to ensure the safety and security of the visit.

To have a shared responsibility in ensuring the budget and finance duties are accurate. And work with the other security officers in raising acquisitions, receipting and invoicing security works.

Assisting the RSA in reporting and recording incidents and any breaches of security informing the RSA/PSO at the earliest opportunity and ensure incident reporting to London is completed and escalated in a timely manner. To assist the RSA in security vetting procedures for CBS staff. Helping to maintain post security regulation documents and update vetting information on the IT systems.

Conducting property assessments and security equipment checks at residences, offices, marker hotels and complete the required reports. Ensuring anything faulty is addressed in a priority manner ensuring British High Commission high standards are met, and in compliance with Security/ Safety requirements. Organising contractors, related to property security works of for urgent repairs.  Assessing security standards at properties and completing accurate write ups and recommendations.

Managing security related requests from staff and UKB diplomatic community whether on properties, incidents or access control, ensuring that issues are addressed in line with agreed standards and deadlines, and communicating with staff and residential occupants where required.

Security administration duties, including weekly team meetings, representing the team at various other mission meetings, internal record-keeping on security items, compiling and maintaining asset registers, assisting with the mission’s travel risk assessments.  Management of property information and inventories, including on the British High Commission’s IT systems.  These tasks include some remote working for the British High Commission’s offices.

Assist the SOM in managing and supervise the team of contract guards at properties and offices to deliver consistently strong performance against a set of operating instructions. Check SOPs are in place and regularly reviewed. Ensure KPI meetings are carried out and that all supporting evident is given to the RSA in preparation for senior level meetings.

In conjunction with the RSA, liaise with the South African Police Diplomatic Protection Branch and with the security staff at other friendly Missions, ensuring that relevant information is reported.

Deliver professionally other tasks and new work as delegated by the RSA and or Post Security Officer on an ad hoc basis, often outside the above areas, in order to support the work of the British High Commission in South Africa.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Line Manage the Pretoria Security officer.

Overseeing the G4S contract, security SOPS and KPIs as advised by the RSA

Oversee works funded by the British High Commission security budget, including researching quotes, assessing these and ensuring costs offer good value for money, financial processes are managed effectively on the IT system and budgetary information is recorded, reported and maintained accurately.

Any other information

The role requires the officer to take occasional calls in the evenings and weekends to respond to any security crisis. Currently the duty phone is shared amongst the team. A duty mobile phone is provided and an allowance over and above salary is paid for this.

Evening/ weekend work will occasionally be required for official events and visits to South Africa (mainly Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town). Flights and accommodation will be provided for long distance official travel journeys where required.

The jobholder must be able to drive to site visits.  A company vehicle is used for such journeys. 

• Has managed a variety of security situations, working to keep people safe.
• enjoys being part of a very busy team but can work independently with little supervision and able to help cover for the head of department and others in their absence.
• Has strong administrative and IT skills including Excel. Has experience managing a budget with good project management skills.
• Is a strong communicator and a people-person, who takes pride in good service and enjoys working in a busy team.
• Has some crisis or emergency management experience or formal security qualifications and
• Has evidence of working at pace and managing multiple projects at the same time.
• It is essential for the jobholder to have a valid driving license as driving (in a company vehicle) to locations is required. A valid passport would also be required.

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required: Fluent in English; exceptional written and verbal English.